Godsplaining How Higher Word Reveals Heaven Through Art and Culture
Mar 2, 2026
Christa Dalmazio, a conservatory-trained soprano and choral director, and Jacob Beranek, a Juilliard-trained composer and conductor, share stories of opera, liturgy, and forming the Higher Word Orchestra. They discuss how live music moves souls, building a Catholic music community, recovering beauty through tradition, and practical steps for renewing liturgical sound.
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How Higher Word Quickly Grew From Talks To Orchestra
- Higher Word began as small theological gatherings that added music and grew into an orchestra after Jacob was asked to conduct a full concert with five months' notice.
- Their first concert drew over 400 people at St. Anthony Padua, and within a year they performed an Easter concert with 500 attendees filmed by EWTN.
Music Helped Bring a Juilliard Colleague To Catholic Curiosity
- Higher Word intentionally builds a Catholic musician community by starting rehearsals with prayer, playing in Catholic churches, and prioritizing Catholic priests and composers.
- This exposure led a Juilliard friend, Pearl, from Protestant suspicion to curiosity, reading, encounters with nuns, and eventual conversion interest.
Use Recurring Ensembles To Build Evangelizing Community
- Build recurring high-quality ensembles rather than one-off gigs to form community and evangelize: regular rehearsals, shared meals, and prayer create lasting bonds.
- Krista notes recurring concerts let musicians see impact when non-Catholics praise performances and inquisitive attendees convert or inquire.